Help! These friendly bugs have gotten trapped in a spider web, and they need your child to help them get free. (Plus, this fun, play-based activity helps your child work on fine motor skills and hand strength they’ll need for writing later on. 😉)
What you need:
- a sensory bin or baking sheet
- 2 lb. bag of white rice
- gallon freezer bag
- green food coloring (optional)
- yarn
- insect figurines
- plastic tweezers (we like the pairs in this bug catching tools kit!)
- tape
What to do:
Start by dyeing your rice the night before. Pour the bag of white rice in a gallon sealing plastic bag and add a few drops of green food coloring. Seal the bag, then toss and knead to distribute the color. (You may need to add more food coloring.) Allow to dry overnight on a baking sheet covered with foil or wax paper.
Note: Dyeing the rice is totally optional, but you will use it again in our upcoming Butterflies + Migration Unit!
Once your rice is ready, take your yarn and wrap it around your sensory bin or baking sheet to form a web. Don’t worry about making it too perfect—the point is for it to be challenging but not impossible.
Next, fill the bin with your green rice. This is your “grass.”
Add a few insect figurines.
Now, present your child with the bin and give them the plastic tweezers. Tell them they need to help rescue the bugs from the spider! Let them work those fine motor skills to free their insect friends and repeat as often as they want to play.
***Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our small business!***